Annual Awards

The ‘Stella’ Awards

The ‘Stellas’ were the brain-child, in 1981, of the Palace Theatre Club’s late chairman and long-serving committee member Jack Clouting. They were voted for by Club members and awarded annually to an actor and actress from the Palace’s own productions (at that time there were few touring productions available and the Palace largely produced its own shows).

Jack suggested that the awards be named after Stella Saunders MBE, a founder member of the Club, former President and a strong supporter of the Palace who attended most productions. She was a retired civil servant and had been actively involved in writing and presenting plays about the town, and also writing poetry. She unwaveringly maintained her active support until her death, in 1994, at 100 years old.

Stella Saunders celebrating her 100th birthday

The awards were inscribed Caithness glass bowls with a star motif celebrating a ‘star’ performance. They were presented at a special ceremony, usually during the Spring Lunch. The first award was presented in 1982 and they continued until 2002, when in-house productions ceased.